Maradona, 1985: Unpublished images of Diego in Peru, a year before scoring the ‘Goal of the Century’ and the ‘Hand of God’ against England

Inside the Country Club, in the heart of San Isidro, an improvised boxing ring is set up. Leo Rojas puts on the gloves, Julio César Uribe squares himself in the other corner and Juan Carlos Oblitas separates both in the middle as referee of the fight. In a few hours, the peruvian national team will face the Argentina of Diego Maradona and Carlos Salvador Bilardo, but in the concentration the only thing that matters is not to give low blows. The fight begins and Roberto Chale, coach of the team, does not stop applauding and laughing. The rest of the squad accompanies giving cheers to calm things down. The handshake at the end between the red and white boxers only demonstrates the union of the group. At night, if necessary, the entire team performs at a Café Concert in Miraflores, where an Argentine vedette will give a show. And later, the cold morning in Lima ends with a scene that sets fire to the day that Luis Reyna will have.

-Are you okay, Luke?

-Yes, Doc. Everything’s fine.

-Could you sleep well.

– Like a stone, doc.

The ‘doc’ is Jorge Alva, doctor of the Peruvian team. The moment happens in the corridors of the club, that he has received the entertainment of an exclusive wedding. ‘Like a stone’ means that ‘Cachete’ Reyna has not stopped thinking about the King. The King is Maradona and today at the National Stadium in Lima he will see his monarchy succumb.

The Peru-Argentina of 1985 has been portrayed in reports, books and documentaries. It has a thousand versions and only one truth. After Moisés Barack was dismissed from office, Roberto Chale accepted the position of technical director due to the refusal of Marcos Calderón and the urgency of the Federation for not hiring José Fernández Santini.